Digital Government

Biden touts launch of student loan forgiveness website

More than 8 million people applied on the beta version of the site over the weekend, officials said.

Cybersecurity

How the TMF helps agencies pave the way toward zero trust

The Education Department chief information security credits the Technology Modernization Fund with providing the agency crucial support and fundamental resources to create a more secure architecture.

People

Vaccination rates tick up slightly among federal employees

The number of vaccinated feds has increased, although there are still thousands of pending exception and extension requests to the mandate.

Cybersecurity

How training fits into cyber workforce development

In a tight market for cyber talent, training is one way to show the workforce you've invested in them, says Jason Gray, the Department of Education's CIO and co-chair of the CIO Council's Workforce Committee.

People

Feds could see relief as Public Service Loan Forgiveness gets a reboot

The program, meant to wipe the student debt of eligible public servants, has rejected the vast majority of applications it's received.

Cybersecurity

7 new TMF awards include one classified project

The awards focus on zero trust and include a major investment in the Login.gov federal digital identity solution.

People

HHS looks to reset labor relations

Some federal agencies are leveraging a Biden administration executive order to change the tone of labor-management relations but unions say a few departments aren't taking the order to heart.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers seek IG probes of telework cybersecurity

A group of House lawmakers are calling on the inspectors general of nine executive departments and the intelligence community to see what cybersecurity vulnerabilities may have arisen due to the mass increase of telework during the coronavirus pandemic.

People

Boosting student loan debt forgiveness could pay off for cyber recruiting

Almost all Defense Department personnel who have sought student loan debt forgiveness have been denied -- a trend that, if unchanged, could make it even harder to recruit and retain tech talent.

Acquisition

GAO calls out agencies for IT supply chain risks

The government watchdog determined most federal agencies were not following best practices for supply chain risk management established by the National Institutes of Standards and Technology.

People

How DOD is updating its online education systems

As the pandemic increases the need for online learning, the Defense Department's chief management officer pushes change.

Digital Government

Lawmakers look to expand FITARA oversight

As agencies improve IT operations, lawmakers want to modernize FITARA scorecard categories.

Modernization

GSA rolls out IT acquisition learning portal

The GSA's new IT acquisition portal offers a range of training on how to use and buy new technologies.

Digital Government

House Appropriations keeps moving on FY21 funding billls

Appropriation for the Departments of Education, Labor and Health and Human Services clears committee, includes emergency funding for state unemployment programs.

Cybersecurity

Sen. Hassan digs into agency IT plans

The push comes, the New Hampshire Democrat explained, because of technology weaknesses exposed in the federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Digital Government

COVID-19 constraints delay needed CMMC rule change

Social distancing requirements have delayed the public hearing needed for a rule change to enforce new cybersecurity standards for contractors.

People

Report: Agency upheaval spark big dips in job satisfaction

Employee unhappiness with labor disputes and agency reclocations are showing up in the "Best Place to Work in Federal Government" report for 2019

People

Agencies lag on IT workforce planning, GAO says

The congressional watchdog warned that agencies are putting billions in spending at risk by not taking steps to raise skills and competencies in the IT workforce.

Cybersecurity

Senate turns up a decade of federal cybersecurity failure

Some of the biggest civilian agencies have failed to act on internal cybersecurity audits dating back multiple years, a Senate report found.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers promotes cyber education, accountability in defense bill

House defense panels think DOD's cyber recruiting efforts -- and cyber tools -- are too spread out to be effective.